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Capital Structure, Corporate Taxation and Firm Age

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Author Info
Michael Pfaffermayr () (University of Innsbruck; Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), CESifo and ifo-Institute)
Matthias Stöckl () (University of Innsbruck)
Hannes Winner () (University of Innsbruck)

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between corporate taxation, firm age and debt. We adapt a standard model of capital structure choice under corporate taxation, focusing on the financing and investment decisions a firm is typically faced with. Our model suggests that the debt ratio is positively associated with the corporate tax rate, and negatively with firm age. Further, we predict that the tax-induced advantage of debt is more important for older than for younger firms. To test these hypotheses empirically, we use a cross-section of 405,000 firms from 35 European countries and 126 NACE 3-digit industries. In line with previous research, we find that a firm's debt ratio increases with the corporate tax rate. Further, we observe that older rms exhibit smaller debt ratios than their younger counterparts. Finally, consistent with our theoretical model, we find a positive interaction between corporate taxation and firm age, indicating that the impact of corporate taxation on debt is increasing over a firm's life-time.

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Paper provided by Oxford University Centre for Business Taxation in its series Working Papers with number 0829.

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Date of creation: 2008
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Handle: RePEc:btx:wpaper:0829

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Related research
Keywords: Corporate taxation; Capital structure; Firm age;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Capital and Ownership Structure
C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models

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